OT - Accident Damage - How can you prove who did what

[Roberto]

Had a bump in my new car today ! Well, I say a bump, I barely touched the guy. Basically, he stopped suddenly because of some old dear in front turning with late indication. We were only doing about 25 when I slammed the anchors on and cannot even remember feeling contact, just the judder of the brakes.

Anyway, we both stopped and pulled over. I checked the front of my new baby and there was not a mark, nothing, nil, niente, nowt, sweet fanny adams. Not even any paint marks off his white car on my black car. I asked him if there was any damage to his and he pointed, somewhat indiscriminately at a series of dents across about 2ft of the bottom of his tailgate (Astra van). There was a smidgin of black in the middle, but nothing else. The fact that the black was in the middle and the most prominent piece at the front of my car is the number plate, I struggled to believe that that mark had been made by me. My number plate wasn't even cracked, and these are usually the first thing to go.

Anyway, we exchanged details, and I really don't have anything to worry about as my car is fine and it is covered by my company's insurance so it won't affect my NCD on my private policy, but I am peeved that some reprobate is going to try and claim for something I didn't do.

Anyone else had any experience of this kind of thing ?

Rob

 

[Stephen]

Yes, and he'll probably try and claim whiplash as well.

 

[Anonymous]

its sad to say, that there are people like that about.. i hope they dont try and claime for wiplash too.....


spider

 

[Zenith]

Please don't let him get away with it. I know it isn't affecting you personally but he shouldn't gain from this when a lot of people work hard for their cars.

It's clearly illegal but I can't think of an exact offence.

Only "obtaining a pecuniary advantage by deception" springs to mind but I don't know the specifics.

 

[Anonymous]

No experience of it, but here's my 2p anyway

I would ring your/works insurance and explain what happened. Let them know that you didnt hit him (send them photo's aswell - Date stamped if possible).

That way you should be covered if he tried to claim.

Daz

 

[Ian]

I wouldn't of exchanged details with him since, if the Police did actually turn up at your house, you could point out the obvious. "What damage?"

It's your word against his, but exchanging your details merely states that you made some kind of contact (Only in my opinion anyway).

Why else would you exchange details?

I would of allowed him to take my reg, but nothing else. - I guess that's just me being awkward but that's how I see it.

 

[Roberto]

I have already informed the company's insurance company and informed them that I am dubious as to whether the damage he pointed out was caused by me. Taking pics crossed my mind after the incident, but I only had my camera phone and like I said, it never crossed my mind at the time. I am sure that when the insurers see that my car had no damage and that his had some extensive dents, they will hopefully put 2 & 2 together.

As far as not exchanging details, isn't that a criminal offence ? Anyway, I have his and he has mine and my company's insurance are well aware of my feelings and have recorded them accordingly. I really will try to make sure they investigate it but it's more likely that they'll just settle.

Rob

 

[Ash]

all i can say is never accept responsibility Ever!!!

as soon as you do you are in for the works wiplash loss of earnings his repairs money lost for time his vehicle spent off the road

at the end of the day if it goes to court u have picts of no damage to ur car and it will get thrown out

 

[Roberto]

If you go into the back of someone, you are automatically at fault.

Rob

 

[Andrew - London]

Unfortunetly if you rear end a car its put down to you. If you claim no damage and he does the insurance company will investigate. There investigators from both side usually are well trained and experienced. They will get together and discuss the damage and will come to a conclusion. It all depends how much damage is being claimed for.

 

[Roberto]

Exactly, which is why I was quite categoric in my statement to my company's insurance that I had zero damage and that I was dubious about the damage to his vehicle.



Rob

 

[Ozric-Al]

Rob, the guy who ran into the back of me last year had absolutely no damage to his car (and I do mean nothing, not a scratch) but completely fekked my bumper mate. It's entirely possible that you have had the same scenario.

Down to the insurers investigators to sort it out mate.

 

[Paul r]

this goes on all the time at the bodyshop i work at.

dont worry, most of the time its a stuggle to get insurers to pay out to fix just whats wrong with the car which blattenly happened in the crash, let alone thing with Q'marks over it!

the investigators will get out of what ever possible, so sit back an relax!

also (this probably wont help) he will probably get a new tailgat anyway, as its very rare for parts to be repaired now, especially bolt on parts (parts that are welded on tend to get repaired more because of the time envolved in fitting them) as the cost of labour now is so high its cheaper to buy a whole new pannel! the fact that there is black paint on the tailgate proves contact (no matter how slight) so they will repair something and chances are the tailgate will be replaced, bad and wasteful i know but thats the way it is!

Paul R